What drives electric bills in Virginia
Residential electricity in Virginia averaged 16.8¢ per kWh in January–July 2026, up 13.1% from 14.9¢ in the same months a year earlier (the U.S. average went up 6.9%). In July 2026, the latest month available, it was 17.6¢. The typical home here used 1,032 kWh a month in 2024, 20% more than the U.S. average, so how much power you use matters as much as the price.
- Rising demand and grid costs. Data center growth requires new power plants and transmission lines, and part of the cost is recovered from all customers.
- Fuel factor. Dominion passes fuel costs through on a separate charge, which changes when natural gas prices change.
- Heat pumps. Many Virginia homes heat with heat pumps, which use much more power in cold snaps.
Who supplies your power
Dominion Energy Virginia serves most of the state, including Richmond, Norfolk and Northern Virginia. Appalachian Power serves the southwest, and co-ops such as NOVEC and Rappahannock serve the rest.
Ways to pay less in Virginia
- Dominion offers an off-peak plan with lower prices outside peak hours. If you can move laundry, dishwashing and car charging, compare it with the standard rate.
- Check Dominion and Appalachian Power for free home energy assessments, heat pump rebates and appliance recycling.
For example, a 1,500 W space heater running 8 hours a day costs about $61 a month at Virginia prices. Check what your appliances cost to run in Virginia.
Help paying your bill in Virginia
- Energy Assistance Program: Virginia’s LIHEAP program offers heating, cooling and crisis help through local departments of social services.
- Dominion EnergyShare: bill payment help and free energy upgrades for customers in need.
Statewide help is in addition to the federal programs, such as LIHEAP and weatherization, that the bill checker above lists. Call 211 to find the agency that handles them near you.
Is solar worth it in Virginia?
A typical 7 kW rooftop system in Virginia produces roughly 9,100 kWh a year, about 73% of what an average home here uses. At the state’s average price of 16.8¢, that power is worth about $1,532 a year. What you actually save depends on your roof, the price you pay for the system, the 30% federal tax credit rules in effect when you buy, and how your utility credits the power you send to the grid. Get at least three quotes before you decide.
How Virginia compares with nearby states
| State | Price per kWh | kWh a month | Typical bill |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virginia | 16.8¢ | 1,032 | $174 |
| Tennessee | 13.9¢ | 1,154 | $160 |
| Kentucky | 14.3¢ | 1,047 | $149 |
| North Carolina | 14.9¢ | 1,015 | $152 |
| West Virginia | 15.5¢ | 1,027 | $159 |
| Maryland | 21.3¢ | 929 | $198 |
| District of Columbia | 24.7¢ | 639 | $158 |
| U.S. average | 18.2¢ | 863 | $157 |
Price: average residential price, January–July 2026, U.S. Energy Information Administration (Electric Power Monthly, tables 5.6.A and 5.6.B). Usage: average monthly consumption per home, 2024, EIA form EIA-861. Typical bill = typical usage × current average price. Solar output is a rough estimate for a south-facing roof.